Paying upfront for garden fence job

[Eccles]

It also meant that if anything went wrong with the boiler it would of being up to you and not the gas engineer.

Andy

That is just plain daft - the boiler would have a manufacturer's warranty which in my case was 2years.

 

[Notch7]

There should be no requirement to pay upfront for materials. In fact, this is a common "red-flag" (usually alongside other things)

Customers that refuse to pay a deposit can also be a red flag.

Trust is a 2 way street.

 

[HERTS P&D]

That is just plain daft - the boiler would have a manufacturer's warranty which in my case was 2years.

Which the customer would have to sort out.

Andy

 

[conny]

Ted Phillips, how did this turn out?
Did you get the work completed?

 

[Ted Phillips]

Evening

This is a bloody nightmare. After three cancellations, we cancelled job on 23 Aug. Guy said we’d have money within seven days. We followed up on 30 Aug to be told he was “waiting for a cheque to clear”. .. We followed up today, giving deadline of Wed 5pm, when we would pursue with authorities etc. The response just received says “he’s waiting on a lot of cash and has a lot to pay out, including us”....

He’s had our money, interest free, since 6 July. It’s theft, plain and simple. In addition to bacs record, we have his email receipt, various texts, Facebook messenger responses and a voicemail. The voicemail and recent exchanges acknowledges that he owes us the money.

 

[foxhole]

Small claims court .

 

[Ted Phillips]

Thanks. Think that’s inevitable now. Pretty certain the guy is an ex “wrong un”. (Told other customers he’d made mistakes, but was getting his life back together. I assume he’s still living a chaotic lifestyle, but you’d think he’d be more sensitive/careful to avoid this sort of situation.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Small claims court .

Yes small claims court, but write to him signed for (keep a copy) and giving him seven days before action first, then if no refund, file a claim.

 

[Ted Phillips]

Thanks again.

 

[Ted Phillips]

Just realised, don’t have his address to do recorded delivery. Was recommended by someone in work. Will ask her, but all I’ve got is email, text number, Facebook messenger, etc.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Just realised, don’t have his address to do recorded delivery. Was recommended by someone in work. Will ask her, but all I’ve got is email, text number, Facebook messenger, etc.

Oh dear, not good..

 

[conny]

If he has a company name he may, if legit, be registered at Companies House.
They should have some form of contact details, (if they are bona fide details of course).

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

OP says he paid by BAC, unlikely but maybe worth explaining to his bank and asking if they can provide a name and address.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

There are customers from hell that will try and delay payments etc, leaving the contractor out of pocket

If the job involves an address and is the property of the OP, the contractor has some leverage to get paid. I have never been asked to pay a deposit on any work like this, just the full bill presented on completion. The only valid exception, is if something needs to be specially made up for a job - fencing uses standard resalable items, so no need for a deposit.

 

[Ted Phillips]

If the job involves an address and is the property of the OP, the contractor has some leverage to get paid. I have never been asked to pay a deposit on any work like this, just the full bill presented on completion. The only valid exception, is if something needs to be specially made up for a job - fencing uses standard resalable items, so no need for a deposit.

Got his address now. Interesting about Companies House- my work colleague thinks he’s not registered, so advised to use this as another angle to put pressure on him.

Above quote-I own property, but don’t follow ref to “contractor having some leverage to get paid”... Paid for what? £450 for materials which were never acquired as job cancelled (after he cancelled three times) I have no intention of letting him anywhere near our property, especially with his likely dodgy background.